‘Our films are more honest’

The film “Conflict 1949 – 1979” tells the story of director Josef Kalüf’s bid to discover his father’s role in the Lebanese civil war and was screened this weekend at the Beirut International Film Festival. Executive caught up with the film’s producer Bahaa Khaddaj to discuss the film and the Lebanese movie industry.   Your film screened at the Beirut International Film Festival this weekend. How did it evolve? I met [director Josef Kalüf] once at Screen Institute Beirut and we became friends right away. He wanted to make a documentary about his father and link it to the Lebanese civil war. In Josef’s opinion, the fact that his dad was a fighter ruined his childhood and the regrets Josef has in his life, or his decisions, his personality or his character – he links that all to his dad. The moment I saw this film is [very] personal I